Ann. Bot. Fennici 47: 148–150 ISSN 0003-3847 (print) ISSN 1797-2442 (online) Helsinki 30 April 2010 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2010

Weddellomyces pertusariicola (, Dacampiaceae), a new species growing on Pertusaria lactea in Turkey

Mehmet Gökhan Halıcı

Erciyes Üniversitesi, Fen Edb. Fak. Biyoloji Bölümü, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey (mghalici@erciyes. edu.tr)

Received 6 Feb. 2009, revised version received 2 Mar. 2009, accepted 5 Mar. 2009

Halıcı, M. G. 2010: Weddellomyces pertusariicola (Ascomycota, Dacampiaceae), a new species growing on Pertusaria lactea in Turkey. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 47: 148–150.

Weddellomyces pertusariicola Halici (Ascomycota, Dacampiaceae) is described as new from the thallus of Pertusaria lactea on siliceous rocks in the East Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is the first known species of Weddellomyces on Pertusaria and differs from most other species of the by smooth-walled, shorter and narrower ascospores. The host was also infected by Taeniolella pertusariicola.

Key words: cephalothecoid exciple, lichenicolous fungi, morphology,

The genus Weddellomyces, described by Hawks- lichenicolous Weddellomyces specimen on the worth (1986), comprises 14 species (including thallus of Pertusaria lactea, which clearly dif- the new species described here) occurring on fers from the other species of the genus and is saxicolous . The delimitation of the genus described here as new to science. The host lichen and its differentiation from other genera was dis- is also infected by the lichenicolous Taeniolella cussed by Navarro-Rosinés and Roux (1995). A pertusariicola, which was subsequently reported key to eight species was provided by Calatayud as new for Turkey (Halıcı 2008). and Navarro-Rosinés (1998), but they did not The specimens were examined with an include W. periphericus and W. tartaricola, as Olympus BH-2 research microscope fitted with those species do not share the general features of Nomarski differential interference contrast optics the genus. Recently, W. turcicus was described and a drawing tube. Photomicrographs were pre- on a grey Acarospora on calcareous rocks by pared on an Olympus Altra 20 Soft Imaging Halıcı et al. (2005) and Phaeospora gasparriniae System. Sections were prepared by hand and was transferred to the genus Weddellomyces by examined in Lugol’s iodine, with [K/I] or with- Hawksworth and Iturriaga (2006), because of the out [I] pre-treatment with 10% KOH, 10% KOH presence of interascal filaments and thick-walled, alone, and water. Ascospore measurements were brown 3-septate ascospores constricted at the made in water and are given in the following septa, mentioned in its original description. sequence: (min)–[mean – SD]–mean–[mean + During a field excursion in the East Black SD]–(max). Length/breadth ratios of ascospores Sea Region of Turkey in 2008, I collected a are given in the same way. Ann. BOT. Fennici Vol. 47 • Weddellomyces pertusariicola, a new species growing on Pertusaria lactea 149

Fig. 1. Weddellomyces pertusariicola (holotype). Ascus and ascospore outlines.

Weddellomyces pertusariicola Halici, sp. nova (Figs. 1 and 2)

MycoBank No: 513050

Fungus lichenicola. Ascomata globosa, 400–600 µm diam., nigra. Excipulum superum ex segmentis cephalothecoidibus constructum. Hamathecium ex hyphis ramosis, anastomo- santibus et septatis compositum. Asci maturi 4(–6)-spori. Ascosporae brunneae, 3-septatae, (21–)21.5–23.5–25.5(–26) ¥ 8–8.7–9.4(–10) µm.

Type: Turkey. Trabzon: Of District, Uzungöl, 40°37.1´N, 40°16.9´E, 1250 m, 30.IX.2008 M. G. Halıcı 0.4629 (holo- type: herbarium of Erciyes University, Science & Art Fac- ulty, Biology Department, Kayseri).

Lichenicolous, on thallus of Pertusaria lactea. Ascomata perithecioid, black, matt, scat- tered in host thallus, at early stage immersed, Fig. 2. Weddellomyces pertusariicola (holotype). — A: later slightly erumpent, apex visible through Ascospore (scale = 15 µm). — B: Ascus, showing the an irregularly shaped split in host cortex, glo- ocular chamber (scale = 15 µm). — C: 6-spored ascus bose, 400–600 µm diam. Exciple in surface (scale = 20 µm). — D: 4-spored and 6-spored asci view of polygonal cephalothecoid plates 20–90 (scale = 20 µm). ¥ 20–45 µm, comprising dark pigmented areas separated by pale areas, plates becoming indis- tinct in lower part of exciple; in vertical section 86.8–94.9–(–95) ¥ (14–)15.3–17.2–19 µm (n = exciple 20–40 µm wide laterally and basally, 24), initially up to 8-spored, but 4(–6)-spored at 40–60 µm thick near apex; cells slightly tangen- maturity, wall gradually thickened towards apex, tially compressed, mostly 6–13 ¥ 4–11 µm, walls I–, ocular chamber present. Ascospores (1–)3-sep- 1–2.5 µm thick. Hamathecium of richly branched tate, (21–)21.5–23.5–25.5(–26) ¥ 8–8.7–9.4(–10) and anastomosing interascal filaments, ca. 3 µm µm (n = 42), length/breadth ratio (2.2–)2.4–2.7– thick, without periphyses, K/I–, I–. Asci cylin- 3.0(–3.1); brown, terminal cells concolorous drical or largely cylindrical clavate, (75–)78.7– with central cells, surface smooth, non-halonate, 150 Halıcı • Ann. BOT. Fennici Vol. 47 slightly constricted at septa, uniseriate or irregu- grow on a foliose lichen genus (Xanthoparmelia; larly biseriate. Calatayud & Navarro-Rosinés 1998, Kocourk- Weddellomyces pertusariicola seems to be ová 1999) has smaller ascomata (200–400 µm), pathogenic as the cortex of the host thallus and constantly 8-spored and longer asci (110– (Pertusaria lactea) is damaged in the infected 145 µm) (Calatayud & Navarro-Rosinés 1998). parts. This needs to be confirmed when further collections become available. The host thallus is also infected by Taeniolella pertusariicola, Acknowledgements which was the first report of this species from Turkey (Halıcı 2008). Weddellomyces pertusari- I thank Okan Sezer and Mahmut Buğra Sert for their help in icola is only known from the East Black Sea preparing the figures. Region of Turkey, where an oceanic climate pre- vails at the altitude of 1250 m. As the host lichen has a wide distribution on siliceous rocks in the References northern hemisphere, W. pertusariicola should Calatayud, V. & Navarro-Rosinès, P. 1998: Weddellomyces be searched for also elsewhere. xanthoparmeliae sp. nov. and additions to the chorol- Weddellomyces pertusariicola is the first ogy of other species of the genus. — Mycotaxon 69: member of the genus recognized on Pertusaria. 503–514. It is characterised by having smooth-walled and Halıcı, M. G. 2008: A key to the lichenicolous Ascomycota smaller ascospores than most other species in (including mitosporic fungi) of Turkey. — Mycotaxon the genus. The ascospore size of W. pertusari- 104: 253–286. Halıcı, M. G., Orange, A. & Aksoy, A. 2005: Weddellomy- icola is most similar to that of W. xanthoparme- ces turcicus, a new species on a grey Acarospora from liae [(22–)23–25.8–30(–32) ¥ (7–)8–8.5–9(–10) Turkey. — Mycotaxon 94: 249–252. µm] (Calatayud & Navarro-Rosinés 1998) and Hawksworth, D. L. 1986: Notes on British lichenicolous W. pachyosporicola [(20–)21–23.8–26(–30) ¥ fungi V. — Notes from The Royal Botanical Garden 43: (7–)8–8.7–9.5(–10) µm] (Navarro-Rosinés & 497–519. Hawksworth, D. L. & Iturriaga, T. 2006: Lichenicolous fungi Roux 1995). Weddellomyces pachyosporicola described from Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands was described on the thallus of Aspicilia coro- by Carroll W. Dodge (1895–1988). — Antarctic Science nata; it differs from W. pertusariicola in having 18: 291–301. markedly granulose-verrucose ascospores and Kocourková, J. 1999: Lichenicolous fungi from the Czech constantly (4–)8-spored asci (Navarro-Rosinés Republic. 1. Weddellomyces xanthoparmeliae Calatayud et Nav.-Ros. — Czech Mycology 51: 179–184. & Roux 1995, Calatayud & Navarro-Rosinés Navarro-Rosinès, P. & Roux, C. 1995: Le genre Weddello- 1998). Weddellomyces xanthoparmeliae, the myces (Dothideales, Dacampiaceae) en Catalogne et en only species of the genus that is known to Provence. — Mycotaxon 53: 161–187.

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